A former Pakistani ambassador to the United States recently cited
Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard’s life sentence in defending the 33
years in prison given to a Pakistani doctor who helped the US track
down al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

A Pakistani court convicted Dr. Shakil Afridi of conspiring against
the state after he helped the CIA find bin Laden using DNA evidence.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other senior American officials
have complained about the sentence but former Pakistani ambassador to
the US Maleeha Lodhi called the complaints hypocritical.

“I think the country that put Jonathan Pollard away for spying for
its close ally, Israel, should understand that other countries too
punish those who spy for an erstwhile ally,” Lodhi, who is now a
journalist and academic, told CBS News.

Officials involved in the effort to bring about Pollard’s release
cited Lodhi’s comments and the Afridi controversy as another reason
why US President Barack Obama should commute Pollard’s sentence to
time served, ideally this week when Obama will present President
Shimon Peres the presidential medal of freedom.

Before leaving Israel for the US to receive the medal, Peres told
Army Radio he would discuss Pollard’s freedom with Obama.

“I will raise the issue in my private conversation with President
Obama,” Peres promised. “The decision is not in my hands but I will
do my best. We want the man to be free but publicity does not always
help.”

Peres referred to a pressure campaign urging him to do everything
possible to secure Pollard’s release in Washington. The number of
people who signed a petition to that effect passed 70,000 at 4 p.m.
Sunday.

Peres will formally be presented with the petition shortly before he
meets with Obama in Washington, so he can show it to him.